Navigated Implant Drilling Gets a Visual Upgrade
Surgical navigation technology now lets clinicians drill with unprecedented accuracy, tracking depth and angulation to the tenth of a millimeter. Real-time visual cues and color-coded depth indicators help oral health professionals stay aligned with the virtual implant plan, from start to finish.
Digital navigation is revolutionizing implant surgery by turning plans into precision-guided action. With real-time visuals and precise control, clinicians can now place implants with greater confidence, accuracy, and efficiency.
Once the system check is complete, the dentist can place the drill over the planned surgical site. The navigation screen allows the clinician to view the virtual drill along with the measurement of depth in tenths of a millimeter, the angular deviation from the planned implant axis, and the implant timing. The tip of the drill is represented as a very small blue dot that the dentist can place over the center of the targeted implant virtual position.
Drilling can be initiated, and the clinician can visually see where the drill is going compared to his/her virtual implant plan. The depth of the drill is usually indicated by color. It starts with green, and when the dentist is 0.5 mm from the targeted depth, it turns yellow. The yellow will then turn into a red to indicate the planned depth has been reached. Throughout the procedure, the assistant can keep an eye on the clinical site and notify the surgeon of any changes that occur from the virtual implant plan. The clinician can change the implant dimension and/or location as he/she sees fit, depending on intraoperative factors.
By integrating visual guidance and intraoperative flexibility, this navigated workflow empowers clinicians to deliver implant placement with exacting control. The result? Greater predictability, improved patient outcomes, and a new era in guided surgery.
This originally appeared in AlQallaf H, Lin SW, Polido W, Yang CC. Exploring dynamic computer-assisted implant surgery. Decisions in Dentistry. 2024;10(6):32-35.
